No association between Apoε4 alleles, HIV infection, age, neuropsychological outcome, or death

J Neurovirol. 2015 Feb;21(1):24-31. doi: 10.1007/s13365-014-0290-2. Epub 2014 Nov 12.

Abstract

The ε4 allele of the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene may have important interactions with physical health and cognitive function among individuals with HIV disease. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationships between ε4, HIV disease, age, neuropsychological impairment, and death in a large, well-characterized study sample. A total of 2846 men participating in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study had ApoE genotyping and neuropsychological test data available for analysis. We found a significant association between HIV infection and time to death (from any cause), as well as older age, race, and education. But, ApoE status was not significantly associated with time to death. Similarly, we found a significant association between HIV infection and time to incident cognitive impairment, as well as age, education, and HIV serostatus; Apoε4 status was not related to incident cognitive impairment. There were no significant interactions between ApoE, HIV infection, and age on cognitive impairment. These data replicate and strengthen prior findings of the lack of association between ApoE ε4 and cognitive outcomes in HIV disease. We conclude that within the specific constraints of an exclusively male study in which the majority of participants were less than 65 years of age (range 22-87 years), it appears reasonable to conclude that the ε4 allele is not significantly interacting with HIV serostatus.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alleles
  • Apolipoprotein E4 / genetics*
  • Cognition*
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / etiology
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / mortality
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / psychology*
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / virology
  • Educational Status
  • Gene Expression
  • Genotype
  • HIV Infections / complications
  • HIV Infections / mortality
  • HIV Infections / psychology*
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • Homosexuality, Male
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Prospective Studies
  • Racial Groups
  • Survival Analysis

Substances

  • Apolipoprotein E4